Intimate Wedding Details

Weddings need not be big, over-the-top affairs to be special. Hornblower helps you put together an intimate celebration for even the smallest group, providing stellar scenery, cuisine and amenities at any budget.

Get a custom quote for your event

Guaranteed guest counts are due 7 days prior to your cruise and final balances are due 5 days prior.

We want to give you and your guests the best possible service so please inform us of guests with special needs, mobility issues or if you have guests that are children.

Parking

There is metered parking directly across the street from the Hornblower Cruises & Events ticket booth on Harbor Drive. The meters take quarters, dimes and nickels and are free after 6:00pm and all day on Sundays. Please allow extra time to find parking especially during peak times.

Attire

We recommend a dress code of California Casual – What is that? We see every theme from black tie to Khakis, so it’s up to you! You will be on a yacht so we recommend low-heeled shoes for women.

Please advise your guests that it can be chilly on the water even in the warmer months. We recommend bringing a jacket so that they can enjoy the outside decks and the spectacular city views.

Check-in and boarding

ONE person from the group (usually the main contact person) will check in at the Grape St. Pier at approximately 5:30 for our Nightly Dinner Cruise or 9:30 for our Sunday Brunch Cruise.

Upon check-in you will meet your Wedding Coordinator; she will have your boarding passes. Once everyone has arrived, she will escort your group on board. Everyone will board the yacht together.

Please do not forget your Marriage License. Give it to your Wedding Coordinator and she will give it to the Captain. After the ceremony, the Captain will fill it out and file it with the county recorder’s office. (couple must supply license)

Grape St. Pier location: 1800 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 at the foot of Grape at North Harbor Drive.

Decoration

Your ceremony location can not be decorated as it is a public cruise and time does not allow.

Your tables will be pre-set according to your package. You can bring aboard small centerpieces if you’d like. Please keep them low to the table and bottom heavy.

Your Wedding Coordinator will be happy to set out toasting flutes, guest book, cake topper, cake knife/server and one favor per place setting if you have them. Please inform us if you are planning to bring any of these items with you so that we can make the proper arrangements. Any other items brought will be up to coordinator’s discretion and may not be used. All items must be out of restrictive packaging.

What to expect onboard

Your first course will be served approximately 30 minutes after departing the dock. There will be a menu and wine list on your tables for you and your guests to reference once on board. If you’ve purchased any upgraded appetizers, those will either pre-set or served after the ceremony.

Your seats are reserved during the entire cruise so please feel free to stroll about the yacht, visit the Captain and enjoy the city views.

Your meals will be prepared fresh on board, and the quantity of food purchased is based upon the guaranteed final guest count. Unlike a hotel or restaurant we do not stock food on the premise. To ensure our high standards, we plan for a few additional guests, but are unable to guarantee their entrée selections.

Beverages onboard

Your Wedding Coordinator will have any pre-purchased drink tickets or drink passports for your guests. These will need to be distributed to your guests and they will give/show this to the bartender or server onboard the yacht.

If you have not purchased drink tickets or passports your guests will pay cash or credit card onboard – we take MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. Drink prices vary.

Music (Dinner/Dance Cruise):

CD players/DJ’s are not available for the ceremony.

Your entertainment host will be happy to take any special song requests throughout the evening. Please limit those requests as it is a public cruise. If you have a specific song that must be played, please bring a copy of that song to ensure that it will be played.

Late guests

Since this is a public cruise, we have to adhere to a boarding and departure schedule, no exceptions. Please emphasize to your guests that we can not hold the yachts departure for any individuals.

If the ceremony begins later than scheduled, your private yacht time will decrease.

What if it rains?

We cruise within the calm, protected Bay, which enables us to offer a comfortable dining experience. All of our yachts have enclosed climate-controlled salons. The ceremony will be moved inside in the case of inclement weather.

Menu Options

When we needed wine filled, empty plates cleared or our picture taken, Mario, our server, was right there! He politely and eagerly attended to our every need and it was appreciated.

– Sara J

Just received the slide from our photographer and thinking,
"Wow~, what a great party we had on that yacht!" all the crew...everyone there were so helpful! They turned the most stressful day into the most beautiful day of my life.I couldn't do it without all your crew's help.PLEASE tell "thank you" to Renee, Captain Jeffrey, and the rest of the crew for us.Thank you very much for all your help!